"Walter Mazzarri wanted to set the record straight following statements made by Antonio Cassano during his Press conference at Parma this afternoon," read a statement on the official Inter website.

"What I said to the club is exactly what I said when I held my press conference in Appiano Gentile. I haven't spoken to or about the players since then because I was waiting for the start of the season.

"I don't see how I can have decided who my first-choice players and squad players are before I've even had the chance to coach them.

"I'd like to put on record that the last time I spoke to Cassano was at the Inter v Napoli match in the first half of last season. On that occasion I just said hello to him on the pitch."